54 Now these are their dwelling places H4186 throughout their castles H2918 in their coasts, H1366 of the sons H1121 of Aaron, H175 of the families H4940 of the Kohathites: H6956 for theirs was the lot. H1486
55 And they gave H5414 them Hebron H2275 in the land H776 of Judah, H3063 and the suburbs H4054 thereof round about H5439 it.
56 But the fields H7704 of the city, H5892 and the villages H2691 thereof, they gave H5414 to Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh. H3312
57 And to the sons H1121 of Aaron H175 they gave H5414 the cities H5892 of Judah, namely, Hebron, H2275 the city of refuge, H4733 and Libnah H3841 with her suburbs, H4054 and Jattir, H3492 and Eshtemoa, H851 with their suburbs, H4054
58 And Hilen H2432 with her suburbs, H4054 Debir H1688 with her suburbs, H4054
59 And Ashan H6228 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethshemesh H1053 with her suburbs: H4054
60 And out of the tribe H4294 of Benjamin; H1144 Geba H1387 with her suburbs, H4054 and Alemeth H5964 with her suburbs, H4054 and Anathoth H6068 with her suburbs. H4054 All their cities H5892 throughout their families H4940 were thirteen H7969 H6240 cities. H5892
61 And unto the sons H1121 of Kohath, H6955 which were left H3498 of the family H4940 of that tribe, H4294 were cities given out of the half H2677 tribe, H4294 namely, out of the half H4276 tribe of Manasseh, H4519 by lot, H1486 ten H6235 cities. H5892
62 And to the sons H1121 of Gershom H1647 throughout their families H4940 out of the tribe H4294 of Issachar, H3485 and out of the tribe H4294 of Asher, H836 and out of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali, H5321 and out of the tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 in Bashan, H1316 thirteen H7969 H6240 cities. H5892
63 Unto the sons H1121 of Merari H4847 were given by lot, H1486 throughout their families, H4940 out of the tribe H4294 of Reuben, H7205 and out of the tribe H4294 of Gad, H1410 and out of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun, H2074 twelve H8147 H6240 cities. H5892
64 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gave H5414 to the Levites H3881 these cities H5892 with their suburbs. H4054
65 And they gave H5414 by lot H1486 out of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Judah, H3063 and out of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Simeon, H8095 and out of the tribe H4294 of the children H1121 of Benjamin, H1144 these cities, H5892 which are called H7121 by their names. H8034
66 And the residue of the families H4940 of the sons H1121 of Kohath H6955 had cities H5892 of their coasts H1366 out of the tribe H4294 of Ephraim. H669
67 And they gave H5414 unto them, of the cities H5892 of refuge, H4733 Shechem H7927 in mount H2022 Ephraim H669 with her suburbs; H4054 they gave also Gezer H1507 with her suburbs, H4054
68 And Jokmeam H3361 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bethhoron H1032 with her suburbs, H4054
69 And Aijalon H357 with her suburbs, H4054 and Gathrimmon H1667 with her suburbs: H4054
70 And out of the half H4276 tribe H4294 of Manasseh; H4519 Aner H6063 with her suburbs, H4054 and Bileam H1109 with her suburbs, H4054 for the family H4940 of the remnant H3498 of the sons H1121 of Kohath. H6955
71 Unto the sons H1121 of Gershom H1647 were given out of the family H4940 of the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh, H4519 Golan H1474 in Bashan H1316 with her suburbs, H4054 and Ashtaroth H6252 with her suburbs: H4054
72 And out of the tribe H4294 of Issachar; H3485 Kedesh H6943 with her suburbs, H4054 Daberath H1705 with her suburbs, H4054
73 And Ramoth H7216 with her suburbs, H4054 and Anem H6046 with her suburbs: H4054
74 And out of the tribe H4294 of Asher; H836 Mashal H4913 with her suburbs, H4054 and Abdon H5658 with her suburbs, H4054
75 And Hukok H2712 with her suburbs, H4054 and Rehob H7340 with her suburbs: H4054
76 And out of the tribe H4294 of Naphtali; H5321 Kedesh H6943 in Galilee H1551 with her suburbs, H4054 and Hammon H2540 with her suburbs, H4054 and Kirjathaim H7156 with her suburbs. H4054
77 Unto the rest H3498 of the children H1121 of Merari H4847 were given out of the tribe H4294 of Zebulun, H2074 Rimmon H7417 with her suburbs, H4054 Tabor H8396 with her suburbs: H4054
78 And on the other side H5676 Jordan H3383 by Jericho, H3405 on the east side H4217 of Jordan, H3383 were given them out of the tribe H4294 of Reuben, H7205 Bezer H1221 in the wilderness H4057 with her suburbs, H4054 and Jahzah H3096 with her suburbs, H4054
79 Kedemoth H6932 also with her suburbs, H4054 and Mephaath H4158 with her suburbs: H4054
80 And out of the tribe H4294 of Gad; H1410 Ramoth H7216 in Gilead H1568 with her suburbs, H4054 and Mahanaim H4266 with her suburbs, H4054
81 And Heshbon H2809 with her suburbs, H4054 and Jazer H3270 with her suburbs. H4054
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 6
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
1Ch 6:1-48. Line of the Priests.
5. Uzzi—It is supposed that, in his days, the high priesthood was, for unrecorded reasons, transferred from Eleazar's family to Ithamar's, in which it continued for several generations.
10. he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem—It is doubtful whether the person in favor of whom this testimony is borne be Johanan or Azariah. If the former, he is the same as Jehoiada, who rendered important public services (2Ki 11:1-20); if the latter, it refers to the worthy and independent part he acted in resisting the unwarrantable encroachments of Uzziah (2Ch 26:17).
in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem—described in this particular manner to distinguish it from the second temple, which was in existence at the time when this history was written.
14. Azariah begat Seraiah—He filled the supreme pontifical office at the destruction of Jerusalem, and, along with his deputy and others, he was executed by Nebuchadnezzar's orders at Riblah (2Ki 25:18, 21). The line of high priests, under the first temple, which from Zadok amounted to twelve, terminated with him.
16-48. The sons of Levi; Gershom, &c.—This repetition (see 1Ch 6:1) is made, as the historian here begins to trace the genealogy of the Levitical families who were not priests. The list is a long one, comprising the chiefs or heads of their several families until David's reign, who made a new and different classification of them by courses.
20. Zimmah his son—his grandson (1Ch 6:42).
24. Uriel—or Zephaniah (1Ch 6:36).
27. Elkanah—the father of the prophet Samuel (1Sa 1:1).
28. the sons of Samuel—The sons of Samuel are here named Vashni and Abiah. The first-born is called Joel (1Sa 8:2); and this name is given to him in 1Ch 6:33. It is now generally thought by the best critics that, through an error of the copyists, an omission has been made of the oldest son's name, and that Vashni, which is not the name of a person, merely signifies "and the second." This critical emendation of the text makes all clear, as well as consistent with other passages relating to the family of Samuel.
32. before the dwelling-place, &c.—that is, in the tent which David had erected for receiving the ark after it was removed from the house of Obed-edom [2Sa 6:17]. This was a considerable time before the temple was built.
they waited on their office according to their order—which David, doubtless by the direction of the Holy Spirit, had instituted for the better regulation of divine worship.
33. Shemuel—that is, Samuel. This is the exact representation of the Hebrew name.
39. his brother Asaph—They were brothers naturally, both being descended from Levi, as well as officially, both being of the Levitical order.
42. Ethan—or Jeduthun (1Ch 9:16; 2Ch 35:15).
48. Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service—Those of them who were endowed with musical tastes and talents were employed in various other departments of the temple service.
1Ch 6:49-81. Office of Aaron and His Sons.
49. But Aaron and his sons offered, &c.—The office and duties of the high priests having been already described, the names of those who successively filled that important office are recorded.
60. thirteen cities—No more than eleven are named here; but two additional ones are mentioned (Jos 21:16, 17), which makes up the thirteen.
61. unto the sons of Kohath, which were left—that is, in addition to the priests belonging to the same family and tribe of Levi.
by lot, ten cities—(Jos 21:26). The sacred historian gives an explanation (1Ch 6:66). Eight of these are mentioned, but only two of them are taken out of the half tribe of Manasseh (1Ch 6:70). The names of the other two are given (Jos 21:21), where full and detailed notices of these arrangements may be found.
62. to the sons of Gershom—Supply "the children of Israel gave."
67-81. they gave unto them of the cities of refuge—The names of the cities given here are considerably different from those applied to them (Jos 21:13-19). In the lapse of centuries, and from the revolutions of society, changes might have been expected to take place in the form or dialectic pronunciation of the names of those cities; and this will sufficiently account for the variations that are found in the lists as enumerated here and in an earlier book. As to these cities themselves that were assigned to the Levites, they were widely remote and separated—partly in fulfilment of Jacob's prophecy (Ge 49:7), and partly that the various districts of the country might obtain a competent supply of teachers who might instruct the people in the knowledge, and animate them to the observance, of a law which had so important a bearing on the promotion both of their private happiness and their national prosperity.